“Giving thanks for life, not killing animals”
November 19th, 2007 by admin
We’re happy to report that the idea of a turkey-free Thanksgiving continues to fascinate the media. Today, two of Florida’s largest newspapers reviewed events that celebrate a cruelty-free holiday.
The Orlando Sentinel reported on ARFF’s 4th Annual Thanksgiving potluck, which took place yesterday in Longwood’s Big Tree Park (the paper called the event “Thanksgiving with a twist”). The article quoted attendee Eden Martin, who keenly explained, “Thanksgiving is about giving thanks for life, not killing animals.” Our thanks to ARFF coordinators Bryan and Carla Wilson for hosting another successful event!
Today’s St. Petersburg Times asked, “What if the sight of a dead bird on the table makes you sad, even sick?” The paper described how the traditional meal can be stressful for vegans and vegetarians, “You and your meatless plate of sides become the center of attention. Meat-eating relatives roll their eyes and wonder aloud why you won’t eat the main attraction. You feel like a target.” Fortunately, there is an alternative for locals wishing to avoid the site of a dead turkey. A vegan Thanksgiving Day feast will be held in Tampa (”No meat in the gravy. No milk in the mashed potatoes. No eggs in the pumpkin pie”). New Port Richey resident Roger McDowell plans to attend the potluck. He originally cut meat out of his diet for health reasons, but his switch to veganism came after “an epiphany” with a cow at the state fair. “I looked into those big cow eyes, and it hit me,” he told the paper. “I decided I don’t have to take this guy’s life to sustain my own. I thought, I’m going to go all the way.” (The Thanksgiving Day feast will be held Thursday at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa; visit www.vegtampathanksgiving.com for details.)
The articles are encouraging; we hope that this year many non-vegetarians will be persuaded to skip the turkey and experiment with an ethical holiday meal.